Nunavik writers: tell CPAWS what you love about your natural environment

The winner of the Northern Inspiration contest will receive an eight-day trekking trip for two to Nunavik’s Pingualuit park. (PHOTO BY HEIKO WITTENBORN/CPAWS)

The Quebec chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society has teamed up with some Nunavik organizations to launch a contest called Northern Inspiration, which aims to raise awareness about the region’s natural environment.

CPAWS, along with the Kativik Regional Government and the Fédération des Coopératives du Québec (Ilagiisaq), are encouraging Nunavimmiut to write about why it is important to protect Nunavik’s eco-systems as interest in resource development grows.

“Because of Nunavik’s unique and impressive biodiversity, as well as the increasing levels of industrial development, CPAWS strongly supports the will of Inuit communities to expand the local network of protected areas,” said CPAWS executive director Patrick Nadeau.

“Beyond the environmental aspects, we must remember that biodiversity is the backbone of the culture, way of life, and food security of these communities.”

“The reality in Nunavik is evolving, and new projects are appearing in the communities,” said the FCNQ’s Lisa Koperqualuk.

To help raise awareness of the need to balance conversation and economic development, CPAWS is inviting any resident of Quebec to prepare a text of no more than 1,200 words explaining your interest in Nunavik and why you believe it is an important region to protect.

Texts may be written in either English or French.

The winning author will receive an eight-day trekking trip for two to Nunavik’s Pingualuit park, a prize valued at $15,000.

For more information or to submit an entry, visit www.northerninspiration.ca.

The contest will stay open until May 31, 2014 at midnight.